Ireland's Largest Craft Brews & Food Fair Returns To Dublin

Ireland’s largest gathering of craft brewers and distillers, Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair, returns to Dublin’s Convention Centre for the sixth year from Thursday March 8th to Saturday March 10th 2018.

It will host over 50 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations and trends, and will include a new ‘Distillers Quarter’, capturing the growing interest in craft spirits and cocktails.

The annual event will offer attendees the chance to taste, experiment and meet with the finest brewers in Ireland and overseas.

There will also be live music on the main stage, live Six Nations Rugby on three of the biggest screens in Dublin and a wide range of tasty eats to complement your favourite tipple, according to the organisers.

Benchmark

“Being an annual event, it provides a great benchmark to track key trends in the sector and of course to taste the latest innovations,” said Conor Farrell, of Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair.

“In a positive outlook for the future almost two-thirds of our exhibitors have indicated that they are planning to increase their employee numbers in 2018 with many also expanding their offering into the growing food tourism area through the development of visitor attractions.”

The new ‘Distillers Quarter’ feature will serve the best craft spirits and cocktails created by leading mixologists. The area will offer a cosy lounge feel where visitors will have the opportunity to sample a range of tasty combinations, some of which will have been developed exclusively for the Fair.

The Fair will host a number of new Irish drinks companies including Kinsale Mead Company, Ireland’s first producer of Mead in years; Ha’Penny Gin, who will introduce a new Rhubarb Gin at the event; Beara Distillery founded in September 2017 by siblings passionate about all things gin; and two new craft breweries - Ballykilcavan Brewing Company who launched their first two beers in Summer 2017 and Larkins Brewing Company who have just launched three core beers in January 2018.

Brewing Up A Storm

With more than 400 brews on offer, the event will showcase well-established favourites alongside new innovations, collaborations, and seasonal specials.

These include: Reel Deel Brewery’s Juniper and Orange Ale brewed in collaboration with James Brown Brews and a Whiskey Barrel Aged Brown Ale with Connacht Whiskey Company; Rascal Brewing Company’s barrel aged beers including Flanders Red, aged in Sangiovese red wine barrels and a Bourbon Milkshake Stout aged in Bourbon barrels; Boyne Brewhouse’s limited edition imperial stout and pilot series as well as the launch of a new canned range; the launch of a new honey beer by Galway Hooker; and a range of new seasonal specials will be revealed at the event from 12 Acres, Rye River, Four Provinces and Station Works.

On the opening night of the Fair, the winners of the Dublin Craft Beer and Cider Cup competitions will be announced by head judge, brewmaster, Gearóid Cahill. The competition, which allows craft brewers and cider-makers to have their brews rated, tasted and analysed by an expert, international panel of judges, is currently open for entries.

The Fair will also host the sixth instalment of the popular Brewers Lectures, a series of live events from leading industry magazine the Brewers Journal. The half day event will feature lectures, delivered by six expert speakers, designed to inspire change, generate discussion and share brewing.

For further information, including the full entertainment line-up and exhibitor listing visit www.alltechbrews.ie.